Vehicle-tire.



' J.. coRwIN.

VEHICLE TIRE. APPLICATION FILED JAH. Z1., 1907.

981,618. Patented Jan. 17,1911. E 2 SHEETS-BHEET 1.

j 1f *i A J. GORWIN.

VEHICLE TIRE. APPLICATION I'ILED JAN. 21; 1907.

981,618. Patented Jan. 17,1911.

Z SHEETS-SHEET 2.

JQHN CRWIN, F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

VEHICLEMRE.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Jani-17, 1911.

Application filed January 21, 1907. Serial No. 353,212.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN CORWIN, a citizen-ofthe United States, and residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invent/ed a new and useful Improvement in Vehicle-Tires, of which the following is a complete specification.

This invention relates to vehicle tires and more particularly to the outer tube or casing for a pneumatic tire for automobiles and the like.

Heretofore pneumatic vehicle tires have usually been constructed of rubber and owing to the fact that the rubber does not offer great resistance to Wear the have usually been comparatively short lived. Furthermore such tires have been more or less objectionable because of their liability to puncture at the tread surface as they become Worn.

lThe object of this invention is to provide a pneumatic vehicle tire having a metalI shod tread, which renders itl puncture proof and at the sametime provides an antiskidding device by means of which the tire lios enabled to take a firm hold of the road It is also an object of the invention to `provide a tire which is very strong and durable and is of comparatively light Weight and cheap construction, and which, While having a continuous metallic tread, possesses great resiliency.

The invention consists of the matters hereinafter described and more fully pointed out vand defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings: Figure l is a fragmen--.

tary top plan view of a tire embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged section taken on line 2 2 of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is an enlarged section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an enlarged section taken on line 4-11- of Fig. l. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing a slight modification of the tread. Fig. 6 is a fragmentar perspective vieW of one of the retaining ands. Fig. 7 is a perspective View of one of the traction lugs. Fig. 8` is a perspective View of one of the protecting plates. Fig. 9 is a fragmentary, transverse section -of a tire showing a modification of the inner edges of the casing and the retaining band therefor.

As shown in said drawings: A represents the tire body or casing which as shown is open on its inner circumference and is constructed of two layers of leather a and a which are firmly cemented together and pressed or formed into the desired shape and treated with any suitable dressmg, such as belt dressing, capable of rendering the leather impervious to Water.

Extending around the outer periphery of the casing is a tread strip B of leather or other suitablematerial which is of a Width to fully cover the Wearing or tread surface of the tire and the lateral edges of which as shown in Fig. 4 are out of contact with the casing. Arranged at equal distances apart on said tread strip are the metallic traction lugs which may be of any desired thickness and as shown extend diagonally acrossthe tread, though obviously they may be at right angles thereto if desired. Said lugs are each secured in place by rivets c-c near each end thereof Which pass therethrough and through the tread strip B, as shown more clearly in Figs. 3 and 4, and by a rivet c which extends through the lug and strip and also through the casing, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. Intermediate said lugs are relatively' thin, metallic protecting plates D, which fit closely between said lugs and form therewith a continuous, though jointed, metallic tread which not only renders the .tire puncture proof but aifordsea very eiiicient antiskidding device. Said plates are each secured to the casing by means of rivets Z*d spaced centrally between the rivets c and of and which extend through said plates, strip and casing. All of said rivets are swaged over on their outer ends and on their inner ends are provided with relatively flat heads. If preferred the protecting plates D may be placed beneath the tread strip, intermediate the lugs C, as shown in Fig. 5. As shown more clearly in Fig. 4 the edges a2 of said casing are turned inwardly to lie Hat on the wheel rim, not shown, and' are beveled on their inne-r surfaces to provide relatively thin fiaps a3.

A lining a4 of canvas or other preferred material is -iirmly cemented to the inner surface. of the casing and inasmuch as it covers the heads of the rivets which extend through the casing it protects the inner tube from such heat as may be conducted intothe tire by the rivets.

Fitting closely in the angle formed on the inner surface of the casing by the inturned edges a2 are the retaining rings or bands E which'are rigidly engaged to said edges by riveting or in any other preferred manner.

Said bands may be flat bands of metal if desired but as shown they are approx1mately triangular in cross section and the inner surfaces thereof are'inalinement with the beveled surfaces of said edges. Said bands may` be provided with rivets which extend therethrough and through the edges a2 but,\ as shown, the rivets e are formed integrally with the bands and project from their inner circumferences. If preferred, and as shown,

-each of said edges a2 may be provided on its f lugs C afford a 'powerful gripping surface for the tire and ,prevent the wheels from` slipping when power is applied, and inasmuch as said lugs are arranged diagonally they prevent the tire skidding when the course deviates from a straight linef Inas- 'much as thevprotecting plates D fit closely between said lugs, the entire tread surface of the tire'is fully protected against puncturlng, while at the same time said plates and lugs do'not -in any way interfere with the resiliency of the tire. The tread thus built up extends a suiicient distance from each side of the medial line of the tire to prevent any object puncturing the tire at its sides. The retaining bands firmly hold the edges of the casing in contact with the wheel rim and thereby prevent the casing from blowing out when the inner tube is inflated.

While I have shown the casing as constructed of a double thickness of leather it is obvious that for light tires it may be constructed of one thickness only without departing from the principles of my invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a device ofthe. class described the combination with a iexible casing of trans versely arranged', metallic lugs rigidly engaged thereon and protecting plates intermediate saidv lugs and of less thickness than the same, 'said lugs and plates being flat and having their ends projecting laterally out of contact with the casing.

2. In a device of the class described the combination with a leather casing open on its inner circumference, of a continuous' tread strip riveted to its outer circumference and having its .edges out of contact with the casin alternately thick-#Q5 and thin metalic members rigidly secured transversely of said strip and in close contact with each other and retaining bands .enga ed on the inturned edges of the casing.

3. a device of the class described the 7| combination with a leather casing open on its inner circumference and having inturned edges, of a tread strip rigidly engaged on its outer circumference, metallic traction lugs engaged adjacent their ends to the mar- 71 gins of said strip and at their centers engaged to the strip andr casing, protecting plates rigidly engaged intermediate said lugs and in close contact therewith, and a re- 'tainin band rigidly engaged on the inner 8i side o each of said edges. A

4. In a vehicle tire the combination with a casing open at its inner circumference, of a tread strip extending around the same,

alternately arranged thick and thin metallic 8l plates covering said tread strip and riveted thereto and'to the casing, an inner lining of r fabric and retaining bands riveted to the edges of said casin 5. In a device of the class described the 9| combination with a tire casing open on its inner circumference and havlng inturned edges, a continuous tread strip rigidly en gaged on its outer circumference, alternately disposed, thick and. thin metallic members 9 arranged diagonally on said strip and rig' idly secured thereto in close contact with eachother, an inner linin of fabric in said casing and .retaining ban s rigidly engaged to the inturned edges 'of said casino'.

6. In a device of the class described the combination with afleather casing open at its inner circumference, of a' contlnuous tread strip on the outer` circumference thereof, diagonally arranged traction lugs riveted adjacent their'` ends to said strip and at their centers to said strip and casing2 protecting plates fitting closely between said lugs and riveted through the ,strip and casing at points intermediate the end and central rivets in said lugs and retaining bands riveted to the inner side of the edges 4of said ,j casing.

.7. In a' device of the class described the combination with a casing of a continuous tread strip engaged thereon and having its edges projecting free therefrom, and alternately arranged thick and thin plates engagedV edge to edge on said strip and terminating at the margins thereof.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto aiiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN CORWIN.

Witnesses: 4

W. W. VVITHENBURY, R. vB. FULLER. 

